GENRE: LN

 With usual messiness, city polls go peacefullyReally, was it 45 percent turnout?A turning point for BengaluruMake them take sidesCandidate details for BBMP elections 2010JP Nagar, Sarakki election debate focuses on water‘Shortest ever' election cycle in full swingCity activists take plunge into politics with BBMP pollsKoramangala residents sound the drum, form citizen councilSmartvote campaign reaches thousandsIn Sagayapuram, only 2 out of 8 candidates turn up for election debateSeasoned panchayat officials, fresher in fray at Bellandur'Cash for coverage' comes to BBMP elections tooDomlur high on expectations from future councillorOne candidate shows up at Thanisandra election debateElection debate turns into grievance forumBanaswadi residents…

It's unlikely that this level of questioning has happened systematically at public election events in Bengaluru before. During the last ten days of campaigning, BBMP council candidates around the city were grilled on tough questions: growth limits for the city, cash compensation for property losers from roadwidening, support from Akrama/Sakrama and more. In addition to the expected and nevertheless important questions water supply, garbage and electricity, 37 candidates from across the city and across party lines were asked to take a stand on key policy issues in terms of ‘YES' or ‘NO' with explanations. While some of these questions were…

The wait is almost over – after years of staring at the ramps of the Whitefield-Kadugodi railway bridge that went nowhere, we are happy to report that the first piece of steel girder over the rail lines was put in place at 1.30 am on March 26th, 2010. The sandblasted and painted steel girder section installed across the ramps, above the electrical lines. Pic: Satinder Randhawa. The work of placing the steel girder over the Whitefield Railway overbridge started just past midnight after the electric lines were disconnected from mains over most of the tracks. Two tracks on the Sai…

Jnanajyothi, the Senior Citizens Forum of Banashankari II Stage celebrated Women’s Day on March 15th 2010. It did so (for the 5th year running) by felicitating three women who have been contributing to the locality and society. The function, held at Bhageerathi Auditorium, BNM College, was conducted by the male members of Jnanajyothi. Those felicitated were: • Dr Arundhati Murthy – a doctor for over 50 years with a Fellowship from WHO, she taught many students at KMC and is one of the Directors of Anugraha Vittala Hospital. • Rajyashree Satish – an artist in AIR, an announcer in Doordarshan,…

Babu Reddy, 37 is a resident of Devarabisanahalli. His ambition includes reading and social service. He has been part of social service projects such as building government schools at Devarabisanahalli, Kanahalli, Sullikunte to organising blood donation camps etc. He joined the Congress 15 years back and was the gram panchayat member between 2000-05. He is married to Sashikala and has two children.38 year P Mahesh is a native of B Nagasandra village near Bellandur Lake. He studied in Muni Hobbamma Boys High School, Coxtown and is into real estate business. Married to Shweta, Mahesh has a 4-year old daughter. His…

"Why is Banaswadi not as developed as areas in south Bangalore like JP Nagar, Jayanagar and Banashankari?", asked residents at a recent public meeting with candidates contesting from Banaswadi (Ward 27).All candidates said that the combined efforts of the Corporator, the BBMP and the public are required to develop the ward.Another resident, C M Subbaiah, also member of the North East Federation of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) asked the party candidates why they had not raised their voice against the development of a BDA layout on a tank bed in the ward. "Your question is correct. We should have done…

On March 24th, residents of Rajarajeshwari Nagar were to get an opportunity to interact with their candidates on a common platform through a debate-cum-discussion, ahead of the BBMP polls. But, this event seemed to have not been taken seriously by the candidates who made cameo appearances and then left much before the debate got over. The event took place at Munivenkatappa Smaraka Bayalu, Rangamandira.Organised by Namma Bengaluru Foundation, in association with Ideal Homes Association, Radio Indigo, SmartVote and Citizen Matters, the event was meant to be an interactive session between the candidates themselves and also between candidates and residents. As…

Thanisandra looks forward to better living. A recent interactive session between the residents and the candidates contesting in the elections gave the residents some hope.Gokul Kadambi, Secretary of Federation of Residents’ Welfare Association, Hebbal summed it up saying, “Ours is an under developed ward. We lack even basic amenities like drinking water, roads, sewerage etc. we are looking forward to a better Thanisandra. These candidates’ promises give us great hopes.”However, this ward, which is reserved for women in the Backward Category A gave an indication, perhaps of things to come. Of the four women candidates, only one turned up herself,…

CIVIC and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations of Sagayapuram, a coalition of Residents Welfare Associations (RWA's) in the ward, organised a debate for candidates of Sagayapuram (Ward no 60) and the residents of the area on March 24th at the Medico-Pastoral Association on Pottery Road from 4.30 - 6.30 pm.The ward is reserved for Scheduled Caste. The meet saw only around forty residents and two candidates participate.  Richards Town, Lazar Layout, Bagalur Layout and Sagayapuram come under Sagayapuram ward. Contestant Marimuttu addresses meeting particpants. Pic: Pushpa Achanta As no contestant was available even half an hour after the scheduled…

The Gangenahalli ward, north of Sadashivnagar and south of Hebbal, has four men contesting for the post of corporator. It comes under the general category. On March 24th, residents of Ganganagar and Ganganagar Extension and residents of Directorate of Quality Assurance staff quarters (DGQA) participated in the event organised by Janaagraha and the Residents' Welfare Associations to know their candidates. The candidates M Nagaraja, 49, (BJP), Muniraju, 43, (Congress), V M Raju, 52, (JDS) and Hussain Saab, 35, (Independent) had to face a volley of questions posed by the residents. Nagraja came half an hour late because he was participating…